Refreshed

Black Prairie makes for a nice change of pace

The Decemberists have been around for some time now, and after lapsing into a strange, riff-based alt-rock orchestra, it’s been nice to hear something fresh emerging as a side project. Black Prairie is raw, ballsy and awesome. The project essentially came to be as a brainchild born to Chris Funk and Nate Query—The Decemberists’ respective guitarist and bassist—while on tour with the Colin Meloy’s Portland powerhouse. Jenny Conlee’s skills as the Decemberists’ accordion and piano player were soon employed and the three began work on Black Prairie.



While intricate instrumentation is the project’s primary direction, excellent refrains and lyricism still pad out the tracks on Feast of the Hunters' Moon. It’s often hard to find complaints for good, wholesome Americana music, and Black Prairie has preserved this fact (at least for me). When a sinister feel strikes the music and makes my bones shiver—a feeling for which I have gained quite a fondness—I’m reminded of why I loved the Decemberists, and why I continue to love the crazy side projects that it has helped spawn.

Check out Black Prairie’s Feast of the Hunters' Moon.
Also check out The Norway Rats for more Jenny Conlee action.

I've been writing over at Natural Beardy lately, this post and others can be found there.

Promiscuous Cyclops Blink

Considering the three Eugene rockers that make up Dirty Wink formed for a one-time gig at a Halloween party, it’s safe to say that they’ve made a beautiful mountain out of a molehill. If it’s possible to imagine Sublime jamming with Lenny Kravitz and Silversun Pickups then I guess you should go ahead and imagine it — that seems to be what these guys did.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Whoa, that sounds nuts!”

I know, right? But it’s the hybrid quality of Dirty Wink’s sound that makes this shit fun. The best part is that they’re really not trying to be anything other than what they are; all of them have the same basic taste in music, but each adds their own unique flavor to make the sound whole.


[Greatest band Photo known to man]

Their first full length is set to release — a wonderful milestone considering they’ve mainly been rocking house shows and bars up until now — and the album is just what you would expect. The production is sound and the songs flow well. At times I’ve found myself getting lost in the music entirely, with the gaps in between songs as nothing more than blips between the rock.

These guys are set to become a local powerhouse, so look out, Eugene.

Dirty Wink’s CD release party with Kingdom County and Blast Majesty is at 10 pm on Friday, Dec. 17 at Luckey’s. 21+. $5

EW 12/16

Lie Easy in the Shade

There’s something oddly haunting about Casey Neill & The Norway Rats. When considering the song titles on Neill’s ninth album — Goodbye to the Rank and File — it might seem strange that tracks called “When I Came to You,” or “Radio Montana” could be considered haunting, but that’s just it: Casey Neill’s music isn’t designed predictably. Looking at a song title isn’t going to help you learn the words to his choruses, nor will it yield any results for your subject matter expectations. In fact, the only way to really understand what this guy’s all about is to listen through every song with your ears wide open and ready to receive. Along the way, you’ll probably end up figuring out a lot more about Casey Neill than you expected. His ballads are poignant, and his lyrics hold the kind of weight that indicates he’s singing nothing but personal truths.



The Norway Rats, who have been working their way towards becoming a fully fledged collective for some time, have finally been able to spread their wings with Rank and File. Featuring performers from The Minus 5, The Decemberists and Lucinda Williams’ band, the Norway Rats allow the entire project to tie itself up with a bow. The twinge of country in Casey Neill’s voice, those beautiful lyrics and the Rats’ clean instrumentation on Rank and File add up to make this tour all the more appealing. Neill sums it up perfectly, as usual, with lyrics: “My work here is done.”

Casey Neill & The Norway Rats and Ezra Holbrook play at 9 pm Thursday, Nov. 11, at Sam Bond’s Garage. 21+. $5.

EW 11/11

Best of Eugene Winners!

Well, everyone voted, here's a few of the people and places that won:


Eugene Weekly Cover 11/4

Best Band - Medium Troy

Nobody describes Medium Troy’s sound better than the band itself: “A nasally white dude with catchy hooks and sick beats,” says the band’s MySpace. This pretty much sums it up. Those beats are liquid, golden and epic, and the instrumental segments of the group’s show will either have you standing in awe or kickin’ back and nodding your head. The guys throw down some sweet rhymes, get silly, jam out and overall just blow minds. Their shows have a tendency to sell out around here, probably because the mixture of hip-hop, dub, reggae and all those other genres is about as strong as the grass in their songs: “I think I’ll smoke a bowl / that’s just the way I roll / I rock pajamas ’cause they’re oh so much more comfortable.” Well, guys, you’ve been voted best band two years in a row now, and we’re pretty comfortable with that. Visit them HERE


Best Solo Musical Performer - Jesse Meade

Photo from Jesse's website (link below)

Oh, how that voice strums our heartstrings! Jesse Meade has long impressed crowds in our town (and a lot of other places) with his wondrous noodling and beautiful singing. Meade is both unforgettably mellow and a powerful performer who keeps the audience glued to the stage. He could be compared to Jack Johnson, or Joe Purdy, or whomever; but who cares whom he sounds like? He is Jesse Meade, and Eugene thinks he rocks. Visit him HERE


Best Hangover Breakfast - Brails

Brails has been the accepted hangover breakfast spot in Eugene for some time now, and as a result, the place is adorned with plaques, signs and newspaper clippings that boast of their ability to make our crapulous mornings bite the dust. There’s a reason for this: Counting the times that we’ve craved some wholesome greasy spoon action the morning after is a near impossible task, and Brails is always right there waiting to satisfy our desires. Prices are cheap, coffee is bottomless and the service is quick. If you’re in need of a place to help you walk straight, clear the thunderstorm in your head and de-fog your eyes, Brails is without a doubt Eugene’s best.


Best Barista - Thomas Howard, Wandering Goat Coffee Company

Thomas Howard has been working as a barista for the Wandering Goat Coffee Company for just over three years now, and in that time he has managed to gain the respect of customers across the city. Relaxed, refreshing and clearly enjoying the atmosphere of the shop, he’s always down to slide a steamer in your direction. “I love it,” he says. “They treat me well.” Well, Thomas, you’ve been treating us well for a few years now, and our hats are off to you.


Best Breakfast - The Glenwood

Delicious food is on the horizon if you’re on the prowl for some good eats in the morning — or, for that matter, any time of the day — because Glenwood is calling your name. The Eugene legend has two locations — campus and Willamette — monster plates of grub, relaxing atmosphere and fair prices. Don’t be disheartened if the place is packed; not only is this a sure sign that the food is good, but it won’t be too long a wait with the fast and friendly service. When hunger pangs strike on a lazy Sunday morning, the Glenwood is the place to go.


Best BBQ - Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen & Blues Joint


Photo from the Eugene Saturday Market Blog

Where else? Papa’s Soul Food has long been our favorite: that fancy menu, those excellent prices, the complete and utter comfort that can be found in filling our bellies with cornbread, hush puppies and perfectly barbecued meat. We recommend being adventurous; try your best to do the entire menu over the course of your life. From catfish and oysters to fried chicken and pulled pork, there really isn’t a dish not worth trying. Great atmosphere, great food and great times: It’s not hard to see why y’all love it.


Oh, and here's my favorite thing that someone wrote on the ballot:

Best Way To Improve Eugene
If we could get a unicorn, that would be nice.

EW 11/4
Congratulations to all!
There's like a billion other categories HERE

Sweet As Melons

What do you get when you cross a blue-collar girl, a pin up model, a sex activist and a powerful-yet-dainty blues voice? Why, Candye Kane, of course. Since first making her name in the ’80s with the likes of Social Distortion — among others — she’s been causing a riot everywhere she treads. Seriously, every group you can think of is a fan of this woman: Bikers, punkers, drag queens, strippers, escorts, porn lovers, dancers, musicians, feminists and more form her loyal fan base.



With 10 records out to date, many of which contain top 10 Billboard singles, Kane is truly an inspiration. She sings soulfully on tracks such as “Superhero” and “Misunderstood,” a cool groove that for some reason evokes a young Django Reinhardt dancing burlesque. OK, so that might not sound so sexy, but the truth is this pin-up-girl-mother-of-two-activist-inspirational-blues-singer of a woman can really wail, and that’s all there is to it. Candye Kane plays at Mac’s at the Vet’s at 9:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 10. 21+. $12 adv., $15 door.

EW 11/4

GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival

The month-long GRRRLZ ROCK! Festival, which pays tribute to all of those fabulous female artists out there, will invade Cozmic Pizza this Saturday for the festival’s fourth stop. The night will feature eight chicks (and groups of chicks) getting down artistically in order to promote and celebrate the growth and participation of women in the
realms of music and arts. Among Saturday’s featured artists will be Gemiinii Riisiing (pictured), a single, awesome female known for her skill when it comes to rocking out. She’s previously found her way (with ease) around Zeppelin and Tool covers—to name a couple—and there’s sure to be more rock in store; also featured will be Sub Pilots, The Refreshments and more. With the price set at $1 or three cans of food, why would anyone want to miss this celebration of grrrlz who rock?

EW 11/4

The Best Kind of Planet

Watch my stopwatch, people. Right now you’re melting into a river of calm hypnosis while waves of round bass and currents of soothing female vocals sweep you away in a magical whirlpool of color and sound. Now the whole thing explodes as a single crash cymbal blows up somewhere nearby, and you’re suddenly drifting at a much faster pace. Your heart’s probably pounding for a second, but then you realize there’s nothing to fear in this new world of Portishead-esque trip-hop, and you begin to enjoy the rapid-fire fills and spills of the entire experience.



There’s a scratch in your ears that you didn’t even notice, but you go with it for lack of control; you’re entranced, under the spell of Cooper Gillespie’s breathy voice as it swells up from beneath like an undercurrent to slow your pulse. But before the calm can become too deeply ingrained, a rich downtempo hip-hop session led by Greg Gordon begins somewhere very close by, and the ride sets off again faster than ever. Beats, raps, keyboards and thick, hearty bass lines hook you in (no, that’s not a bass fishing pun), and then you’re dancing atop a gigantic, groovy wave of diamonds and lights.

Then, out of nowhere, a break. A sudden halt and the sea of sound flatlines, jolting you back to reality as you realize how ridiculously tripped out the last four minutes of your life have been. Holy shit, man, you’re not on a ride at all. You’re listening to Mad Planet, and it fucking rules.

Mad Planet plays at 10 pm Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Luckey’s. 21+. $3.

EW 10/28

Pirates, Gypsies, Whatever.

Remember that part in Peter Pan where Captain Hook and his crew sing and dance around in a loud and unruly fashion while accordion music plays in the background? Gogol Bordello brings this exact image to mind every time their aptly classified “gypsy punk” music blasts through my headphones.



Currently, the group stands with about nine members hailing from all kinds of different places — Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Scotland, Israel, Ecuador and the U.S. — and this enormous collective gets as rowdy on stage as any other punk band. The real difference, however, is that gypsy punk is an entirely different breed of music. For starters, most of the instruments are acoustic — à la Violent Femmes, perhaps — and many more elements are incorporated into the music: Cajun influences with accordion and fiddle, a thick background of percussion that takes drumming beyond the “doo-ka” rhythms of traditional punk, and heavy inclusion of dance all blend together to create an entity quite unlike anything else under the punk umbrella.

Fans of DeVotchKa and Motherhead Bug will certainly feel at home in the crowd at a Gogol Bordello show, and while many of the lyrics are difficult to make out, it’s really not hard to find yourself humming along with the catchy melodies that often shine through the chaos. So whether Gogol Bordello reminds you of Captain Hook having a good time with his crew or just a bunch of crazy Europeans putting on a freaking awesome show, this is sure to be a sweaty night. Gogol Bordello and Forro in the Dark play at 8 pm Sunday, Oct. 17, at the McDonald Theatre; $22.50 adv., $25 door.

EW 10/14

21 Is Just a Number

Things to do in Lane County while you’re still young

Sure, 21 means you can go and buy some cheap beer and make an ass of yourself a little more easily, and yes, it means that you can get into clubs and venues that don’t allow minors. But beyond that, 21 really doesn’t have that much going for it. So for all you freshmen sitting there in your cramped little dorm room filled with anxiety over your minor status and first year away from home, let the troubles wash away. There’s plenty to be done!

As the Oregon sky tries to crap out those last rays of sunshine this year, the last thing that anybody wants to do is waste them. Disc golf can be found all over the place, and the community that plays it is incredibly welcoming and fun. Then consider all of the other activities that a new place has to offer — hiking, malls, movies, bowling — the list is, as with any city, almost endless.

But I’ll be honest with you: The real anxiety will most likely hit you at night. Again, goosfraba, it will probably go a little something like this: The sun sets, you’re thinking “Oh shit!” because around you the city is crawling into bars and night clubs, McMenamins isn’t allowing minors anymore, and 7-Eleven is packed with people buying booze, which you can’t do without standing outside handing money to strangers in hopes they’ll score you a six-pack.



Chill out, man, there’s plenty to do after the sun has absconded with Eugene’s sobriety. The McDonald Theatre often has great gigs, and the WOW Hall and Wandering Goat also have all-ages shows for low prices.

Oh yeah, and just because you can’t get into clubs doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy their atmosphere: Some of the most intriguing conversations to be had come from buying a pack of smokes and sitting outside John Henry’s on ’80s night. Side note: Even if you don’t smoke, cigarettes are useful, as they become a catalyst for conversation.

Campus has a whole load of nighttime events that should be kept in mind also. Movie nights, Hamilton basement shows, root-beer pong tournaments, Karaoke, ultimate Frisbee games and more are all right past your doorstep over there, so don’t go complaining that campus is boring. Walk outside and see what’s up.

Now I think it’s time we address the thing that you’ve been keeping in the back of your mind while you read. Not that we’re encouraging this, but finding alcohol before you turn 21 really isn’t the feat of the century. If you feel like drinking will liven your night up (which, let’s face it, you probably do), then go do it somewhere safe. Or at least somewhere that won’t end up with you falling in the river. I guess what I’m saying is: Don’t drink at the river. MIPs all round?

No thanks. There are plenty of parties to be hopped and plenty of people with houses. Chances are that if you know somebody willing to buy you alcohol, then you know someone with a house. Please, I reiterate, be safe. With that September riot still fresh in our minds (and the minds of the police), it’s probably better for everyone that the drinking be conducted indoors. Besides, welcome to Oregon; it’s going to be raining anyway.

Phew, lecture over. Feel free to take a break from reading and get a glass of milk.

If you’re not really a fan of city nightlife, a good option is checking out the local hot springs like McCredie and Wall Creek. They’re about 45 minutes down Hwy. 58, but well worth the night drive. You’ll find yourself out in the middle of nowhere with only nature around you. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining because the water keeps you plenty warm. And if you go in the daytime, Oakridge has awesome mountain bike trails.

So you see, there is endless fun to be had in the wonderful world of Lane County. Don’t be put off by the fact that you haven’t been around for 21 years yet, or that you are stuck living in a small, shared space; these are the things that give you no excuse to avoid all of those awesome activities. How do those old Disney Channel commercials go? “Get up and get out there.” Something like that?

[EW 10/07]

John Craig Comes Home

Ah, Portland, our colossal neighbor to the north. It’s got all of the things a big city needs: buildings, parks, rivers, bridges — and let’s not forget the artists. In fact, Portland has been home to a whole lot of great musicians in its time.

Here’s another that nobody should miss: John Craig, who started out his days as a musician right here in Eugene. As UO students, Craig and his friend Ryan Dobrowski — who now plays his part for Blind Pilot — created Tympanic, gaining mild success on the West Coast before graduation. Since then, Craig has pursued a solo career based on a touching blend of electro, rock and pop that is hard to categorize. At times, his voice is reminiscent of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), while other times it’s just something completely different.



Craig’s music is mellow yet danceable, colorful yet gray, grounded yet spacey and everything in between. In each song, he achieves a rich framework of textures and sounds that aims to please. If you are in need of a reminder that Oregon still rocks ridiculously hard, this is your man. John Craig plays at 8:30 pm Sunday, Oct. 3, at Taylor’s Bar & Grille. 21+. Free.

[EW 9/30]
Also Scope: The Best Kissers in the World

Do Clouds Still Taste Metallic?

The end of a transformation for The Flaming Lips

1983 is important for many reasons in our world. It’s a song by Jimi Hendrix; it’s also the year Return of the Jedi was released, the Tokyo Disneyland opened and KISS first appeared on TV without makeup. But all of these momentous events seem obsolete in the face of one thing: ’83 marked the formation of the psychedelic, fuzz driven, colorful, magical, beautifully wild, shows-that-will-reputedly-blow-your-mind Flaming Lips.

Hailing from Oklahoma City, the Lips fuel their music with a range of different influences and styles. Dreamy vocals echo between fuzzy synthesizers and flanged guitars to create a symphony of psychedelia, while mid-tempo drums carry the listener along through an array of flowing melodies, licks and breaks — techniques reminiscent of those found on Pink Floyd’s cosmic Dark Side of the Moon. In testament to this Floydian influence, The Flaming Lips recently covered the entire Dark Side of the Moon album, and boy, did they do it well. Currently the Lips are touring to back last year’s Embryonic, and they’ll only be making one stop in Oregon. How lucky we are that they chose our McDonald Theatre for that stop.



Now imagine, if you will, a stage. Throw in some naked people, some Teletubbies, bubbles, aliens, bouncy balls, confetti, lights, giant hands, microphones and instruments. Now make the entire thing explode into color and life. You’re at a Lips show and the world is bursting at the seams with beautiful rays of light. This might sound a little more like a carnival than a concert, but that’s just the point.

Since Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was released in 2002, it seems as though the Lips’ older albums have become lost in a haze of fuzzy, mellow-artistic engineering. There is certainly no denying that Yoshimi and At War With the Mystics are solid records, but they indicate that the group’s slow transformation into a psychedelic funny-house band is drawing to a close.

In 1995, Clouds Taste Metallic blasted the ears off of those people who had managed to hear about the Flaming Lips — most of them probably hanging on every note of “She Don’t Use Jelly,” which was released in 1993 — and this slop infested, psychedelic, noise driven masterpiece left an impact that seemed like it could be everlasting. Unfortunately, those days of noisy, gain-up-too-high slop rock seem to be over for the Lips, and their recent music has gained an art-rock quality that still aims to please but won’t entirely satisfy those fans from the ’90s.

Embryonic, however, has a lot more old-Lips style mixed into it than the previous two albums (especially At War With the Mystics), and this gives great hope to fans of the dirty production and sound effects of Transmissions from the Satellite Heart and Clouds Taste Metallic. Fingers crossed that the Flaming Lips will soon find the perfect way to blend their older, crazier stuff with their cunningly engineered post-millennium sound. As of now, Embryonic is the closest example of this.

Back at that carnival things are still going wild, and you love it. You love yourself and everyone around you. Here’s where the Flaming Lips have truly succeeded in leaving a mark — friendship and connection. So is it ultimately a bad thing that they have transitioned from a sloppy, noisy rock band to a colorful, well-produced dream machine? The answer is undoubtedly no. They’ll still rock you sideways.

The Flaming Lips, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. 9 pm Wednesday, Sept. 29. McDonald Theatre • SOLD OUT

[EW 9/23]

Calling From the Sun

Re-discovering Marcy Playground

There’s no denying that Marcy Playground was one of the better one hit wonders of the 1990s, but they happened to be sitting on a whole mountain of gems when their eponymous LP was released in 1997. Forgotten in a haze of constant “Sex and Candy” airtime, the other eleven tracks that fill the record are not only enjoyable, they are fucking awesome.



Grunge meets nineties pop, folk and rock to create a solid—and remarkably original—effect. Acoustic guitars, often layered, lie at the foreground of many tracks while John Wozniak’s vocals ring out in a calm, dull drone beneath (for an example of this technique go back into the annals of your memory and re-listen to “Sex and Candy”). Other tracks, such as “Sherry Fraser” and “One More Suicide” find Wozniak at the front, singing his heart out.


The truly remarkable thing about Marcy Playground is that their entire existence was drowned out by that one song—which is, in my opinion, far from the best track on the record—and all of those other beauties were forever buried somewhere. Who knows, maybe a few people out there would still love to see Marcy Playground live to hear their other tracks. I, for one, would definitely get down.

Booch Light?

Kombucha gone missing equals "a bummer"

Considering the recipe for kombucha is about as old as Jesus, it comes as no surprise when a stench resembling the bottle return center comes drifting out from beneath the cap of this sour, fermented tea. Yes, it's tea, but with a twist. This organic drink contains live bacteria that help to promote a strong immune system as well as aid dietary function. In fact, kombucha really appears to live up to its reputation as a “wonder drink.” Unfortunately for those who have fallen deeply in love with the stuff, the swift removal of most brews from shelves has left a hole in the hearts of many kombucha drinkers.

The tea was pulled due to suspicions that its alcohol content may rise above a half-percent ABV (alcohol by volume)—the limit for beverages to be deemed non-alcoholic—and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, in collaboration with the FDA, is running an inquiry into this claim. For many brewers, this has meant a complete halt in business unless they’re willing to sacrifice quality and give way to pasteurization, a technique that ensures the drink stays below the legal limit. For many drinkers of non-pasteurized kombucha—“purists”—this means the hunt is on.



Whether or not kombucha can be placed in the same category as beer and wine is uncertain, though the invention of Booch Light could be on the horizon. The nature of fermentation is tricky, and with a thousand different home-brews up for grabs, it’s hard to believe that every last bottle has been left to ferment for the perfect length of time.
Stores still carry kombucha in small quantities, including Kombucha Wonder Drink, which is brewed in Portland and became incredibly popular before the recall. However, the tea is now pasteurized and the aforementioned “purists” surely won’t abide it. Those drinkers who aren’t purists, though, don’t seem to mind in the least. “People are kombucha crazy!” says Emma Buckley of The Kiva grocery. “When we didn’t have it I had to field the question about twenty times a day; where is it? Why don’t you have it?”

A scan of the UNFI website—a major distributor—shows that GT, a popular brand of kombucha, has halted all manufacturing for the time being, and plans to soon release a tea with a much higher alcohol content. This product—code named AP5—will of course only be available to buyers who are over 21. As for many of the other brands mentioned on the site, it appears that they are simply giving way to the “reformulation” by installing new machinery and diluting their product. With the most recent update on the UNFI website, the text simply reads: “Demand continues to exceed the supply.”

Most drinkers whom I know describe the entire situation as “a bummer,” but forums and blogs frequented by die-hard fans hold a much stronger reaction: “I NEED mah fuckin booch!!!!!!” etc. Many other forum users ponder the reasons for the drink’s recall: “[Kombucha] was banned ages ago because mushrooms started growing in people’s stomachs.” As the list piles higher, the theories become more and more absurd, and some even go so far as to blame the ban on celebrities: “Oh my god, you're not going to believe it....It's all that bitch Lindsey Lohan's fault.”

Those forum users with different attitudes, however, discuss more than just their chagrin over the ban. “Is kombucha safe if I’m nursing?” “Does [kombucha] put my sobriety at risk?” and similar, valid concerns are often to be found among the babblings of booch conspiracy theorists.

Is kombucha truly the “wonder drink” to be hailed by all as a gift from Mother Nature? Or is it simply another thing that beer snobs will one day find pleasure in? The proof will be in the pudding (or in this case the beverage) when the FDA gets completely through with its inquiry. For now, I guess all the avid booch lovers out there will have to search far and wide for their fix of this amber colored, sour beer scented, “healthy”-as-can-be fermented tea.


[EW Chow! Restaurant Guide 9/16]

Looking on the Whiteside

The Whiteside Theatre has long been a dormant historical landmark for Corvallis, and on Sept. 19, 16 Oregonian acts will perform benefit-style for the theater’s rehabilitation in the first Whiteside Jam.

Dating back to 1922, the Whiteside Theatre has a charm not unlike that of our local McDonald. With all proceeds going toward rehabilitation, the hope is that Corvallis residents will soon have a significant historical venue to call their own.




Jaime Williams — the mind behind the jam — is a member of the Whiteside Theatre Foundation, which has existed for two years. The foundation has received good grants but has never had a truly spectacular fundraiser. “We needed something bigger than piddly little fundraisers,” says Williams. With 16 acts, two stages, Oregon Trail Brewing supplying the beer garden, Crêperie Du Lys and Purple Moon Organic Coffee supplying the provisions, a VIP tent for sponsors and talent, the awesomeness of this event only seems to grow stronger with each item. Williams agrees, saying, “What better to do on a Sunday than just hang out?”

Williams’ hope for the festival is somewhere close to $5,000. That kind of money would allow for the major fix-ups that the theater requires in order to open its doors — new bathrooms, new electrical systems, etc. — and from there the revenue generated by functions will pay for all those other, minor cracks to be spackled.

The Whiteside Jam runs 11 am to 11 pm Sunday, Sept. 19, at Benton County Fairgrounds, Corvallis. $12. See www.whitesidetheatre.org for more info.

[EW 9/16]

Upcoming Events: Ashland Mind Music Festival

Ashland locals Kaargo Bossajova have worked tirelessly since their formation to promote local music and community spirit with the use of festivals, and on October 8th they will host another grassroots rager down there in southern Oregon. The Ashland Mind Music Festival boasts camping, open jams, and a place to kick back and listen to some awesome local names.

The lineup includes some of the names found at this year’s Apple Jam—an event hosted annually by Kaargo—and a whole lot of new ones too, including Eugene favorites Forever Growing. Beyond the music though, the festival is about much more; friendship, community and a fun atmosphere.



Though complaints about the price have occurred (albeit rarely), tickets include a full weekend of camping, and all night access to amenities—including beer—so although the prices may seem steep at first, it all evens out to a fair price in the end. Complaints about price tend to originate from the fact that many of the bands are unknown, but as the organizers put it: “All of the best were unknown until the community came out to listen.”

The Ashland Mind Music Festival is on October 8th, AMMF property, Ashland, OR. More info @ http://events.myspace.com/Event/7060427/The-Ashland-Mind-Music-Festival

High Violet & City Lights

I must admit it took me listening to Boxer several times before The National started to grow on me. There was something that just didn’t click at first—perhaps Matt Berninger’s baritone voice just wasn’t something that I was used to hearing, perhaps it was just the overall sound. In any case, a recent midnight drive to up to Portland from Eugene made the Brooklyn-based group fall perfectly into my heart. I’m guessing that my propensity to envision every late-night drive I take as a scene from a movie allowed The National become my perfect big city soundtrack.



Their latest full length High Violet is mostly similar to Boxer, the only noticeable difference is that the composition feels warmer and fuller, despite the apparent emptiness that the lyrics often convey. Again, the music itself is driving and epic, well layered and complete. The production is flawless except for a few occurrences of overused reverb on the vocals, but that’s hardly a deal breaker.

So long story short I would definitely recommend High Violet be added to the library of anybody that has previously enjoyed The National. The album is solid and thoroughly enjoyable, the ideal background music to welcome you back to those man-made lights after a long night of driving in the countryside.

Not So Hard On The Ears

Seattle has often been a hub for talented musicians and artists to join, gather influences and produce original results. With the rise of indie music over the last few years, many of these artists have become lost in a sea of names, making it hard to find a band that displays noticeable influences while still maintaining a solid level of originality. The Soft Hills, however, is one Seattle group that achieves this feat seamlessly.



Radiohead’s ambience, Bread’s guitars, a splash of Flaming Lips’ rhythm and some fabulous songwriting skills add up (remarkably) to create that poppy, indie sound that has managed to enchant music lovers and hipsters. The Soft Hills’ second release, Noruz, shows improvement from their older songs in most facets. The songwriting, instrumentation and production are tuned more finely, showing off the experience the group has gained since their debut release. Even fans of the “slop-rock” scene — which to most would include groups like Pavement and Sonic Youth — could find comfort in frontman Garrett Hobba’s vocals, which at times possess a jittery feel not unlike those found with fellow Seattle rockers Girls.

I guess what we’ve learned from all this is that leaving multiple variables open to influence can create a single outcome that isn’t half bad. And for those like me who don’t really understand math: The Soft Hills prove to be a smorgasbord of influences and originality, so don’t be surprised if you hear some familiar sounds shine through. The Soft Hills and The Stagger and Sway play at 9 pm Sunday, Sept. 5, at Cozmic Pizza. $5.

[EW 9/2]
Also scope: Lance Sparks' piece on the Southern Willamette Artisan Wine & Food Celebration HERE.

Bluegrass Lovers Rejoice!

In 1985, Bob Geldof’s brainchild Live Aid came together as one of the largest benefit concerts in history. Twenty years later, Live 8 was staged from eight simultaneous locations worldwide. Now, in 2010, Corvallis answers to the behemoths of benefit with Beavergrass. OK, so the festival may not be fighting hunger, poverty or disease per se, but it does hold close the idea that our children are the future, with all proceeds going toward the Corvallis High School District Foundation.

The two-day festival features 17 different artists — including Grammy winners Peter Rowan and Laurie Lewis — playing on two stages. But it would be foolish to take musicians as the essence of any festival, and Beavergrass is no different. The atmosphere is truly what makes these experiences great, and so there will be jams — led by artists — that get the public involved, and a square dance that will make you the opposite of a square.


[Peter Rowan being a complete badass]

The folks behind Beavergrass are also doing everything in their power to remind the public that a green festival is a good one. They encourage the use of reuseable water bottles, napkins and utensils; support carpools; and even promote preparation techniques like taking reusable bags when buying groceries to bring along.

This being the festival’s first year, success is a must if the event is to happen a second time, but as Beavergrass founder Mike Meyer puts it: “I feel the audience and local talent is strong here, and this area loves the West Coast version of bluegrass that I love.” So no worries, man. Beavergrass takes place Aug. 20-21 in Central Park, Corvallis; adults $25-$40 day, 2-day $55; youth $10-15 day, 2-day $20.

(From the 8/19 Issue of EW)
Also Scope: Rick Levin-who pretty much wrote the entire paper this week-on The Girl Who Played With Fire: HERE

Mountains Beyond Mountains

“The Suburbs” fucking rocks.

In 2005, Montreal based group Arcade Fire received a Grammy nomination—best alternative music album—for “Funeral,” an album which, in my eyes, could not be better. The group went on to receive the same nomination in 2008 for the epic, brooding masterpiece that is “Neon Bible,” but were once again outdone. So 2010 rolls around and what do they do? They release “The Suburbs.” Now it’s looking promising that this is Arcade Fire’s year for that Grammy.

The startling difference between “The Suburbs” and Arcade Fire’s earlier work comes with the production on their new album. It’s as though the group took “Funeral” and put it in the crisper, leaving a sharper, cleaner album that doesn’t jeopardize the band’s sound as a whole. The album also features a talented exploration of Arcade Fire’s ability to bridge genres: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) comes as a shock considering the group has never made a song with such heavy electronica influences, and the buzzing vocals and fast-paced drums on Month of May hint at a punk sound found when listening to Wavves, or Girls’ “Big Bad Mean Mother Fucker.”



Oh by the way, I should probably mention that the album has eight different covers. Maybe you should just collect them all and give them out to your friends. This is the kind of thing you’ll want to share anyway so why not?

From start to finish “The Suburbs” puts the downtrodden, monotonous life that has become a facet of our modern society into the limelight. Win Butler’s forlorn vocals mesh perfectly with the driving beats that back him to evoke a powerful urban setting that has never truly been conveyed through music.

But before we get completely wrapped up in the meanings, metaphors and workings of “The Suburbs,” let’s just stop and allow one guarantee to soak in: This album will knock your fucking socks off.

Tamarack Wellness Center Begs Support

Local nonprofit Tamarack Wellness Center has fallen into deep financial crisis with the loss of a $60,000 donor. The center itself—which offers swimming, yoga and massage therapy as a means of promoting good health—relies exclusively upon donations and fees to keep itself functional. Without government finance, the loss of a $60,000 donor could be detrimental to the center’s quality of service unless said amount is raised by September 1st.

Donor and executive director for the Tamarack Wellness Center, Sue Sherman, will take her leave from the company at the end of this month, thus cutting her donation chord and resulting in the urgent revenue shortage. She encourages the public to donate so that Tamarack can “broaden its base of support.”

She says: “It’s time for the Lane County community to do their part” in a cry for help to the citizens of Eugene—and surrounding areas—to save the company by making tax deductible donations.



As of now, the company has raised $15,000, and so find themselves with 75% of next month’s finances left to gather. Board members at Tamarack seem to be handling the stress of the situation well; Ann Cole, board chair, says: “We are confident we can raise the support we need to keep Tamarack alive.”

Ultimately the irony here lies with Sue Sherman’s reason for leaving. She says: “The difficult economic times have contributed to my decision to make this change,” which, understandable as it is, only appears to have left the company with further financial problems.

While the recession has hit everything hard in Oregon, nonprofits seem to be taking the brunt with fewer willing donors to support their services. Tamarack Wellness Center falls unhappily into that category with their founder and major donor falling prey to the economic crisis. For more information on the center, or to donate, see www.tamarackwellness.org

A Belated Review for Crystal Castles (II)

After great success with their first eponymous album, Crystal Castles have become an entity separated entirely from other modern electronic-thrash artists through efficient use of 8-bit technology and raw production techniques. Back in April of this year, I was informed that digital copies of their new album had become available and I jumped at the chance. After fifty minutes of listening however, I was disappointed to find myself feeling strangely empty.



Despite the usual Lo-Fi chaos that I personally see as the essence of the Ontario duo, the album is, in many ways, not as compelling as the first. There is undoubtedly less screaming, which I felt to be the first release’s downfall, but the album’s successes are far outweighed by an apparent lack of creativity in all other facets; the riffs, lyrics, beats and even the production seem to missing something. To put it more clearly, it seems as though the beloved duo are trying too hard to fit the expectations of listeners. In this they have lost the touch of simplicity that is the essence of true 8-bit thrash.

This is not to imply that the album isn’t at all worth listening to. In fact I would certainly recommend it to somebody looking for a wholesome electronica experience. Crystal Castles (II) is undoubtedly a record that can be enjoyed for its variety. That is to say (and this may seem completely out of place among the comments above), the duo have achieved a state in music that The Velvet Underground & Nico reached some forty odd years ago; the album is noisy, sloppy and at times belligerent, but it somehow still maintains the power to send the listener into a drool filled stupor with its dreaminess.
So not all bad I suppose. Maybe I was nit picking before. Who cares? I just came to thrash.

Wildlife Services: A Vicious Cycle (Briefs Version)

The recent permits to kill Oregon’s small wolf population issued to the USDA’s Wildlife Services division have brought that controversial government agency into the spotlight. Predator advocates such as Eugene’s Predator Defense call for non-lethal predator control, such as the recently funded range rider program, rather than shooting or poisoning wolves and other predators.

A $15,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant (USFWS is a separate agency from Wildlife Services) will reimburse livestock producers who pay for a range rider to patrol cattle grazing in areas of the Imnaha wolf pack this summer. The Imnaha pack, which currently has a litter of puppies, is said to have attacked and killed livestock earlier this summer. USFWS says that range riders have been shown to help reduce livestock losses to wolves in other states.

George Wuerthner, a longtime researcher of Wildlife Services, says that general consensus among those who disagree with the policies of Wildlife Services is that information readily available and advertised to the public is quite different from the reality found beneath the surface. For example, he says, the extermination of rabid raccoons is advertised as a solution that Wildlife Services provides, and the public rarely disapproves of this activity since rabies is so dangerous. However, by advertising such services, the indiscriminate killing of wolves, cougars, bears and coyotes are thrown out of the limelight, according to Wuerthner.

Critics say that despite its attempts to protect the livestock industry, Wildlife Services has seemingly worsened the problem. Wuerthner, staff ecologist for Predator Defense, says: “Indiscriminately killing predators skews the age of a population over time … leaving a higher percentage of young, inexperienced predators that are far more likely to target livestock.”

Wuerthner explains what he calls a vicious cycle created by Wildlife Services: A livestock owner calls in a troublesome predator, several animals are killed (among them a large population of older, more experienced hunters) and inexperienced hunters are left to once again target livestock. After this, the cycle repeats.

He says that part of the reason that this cycle exists is that livestock owners often have no incentive to properly protect their animals. “In Chile, the farmers take protective measures like cattle sheds and corral fences to protect their livestock because there are laws against killing predators,” Wuerthner, who recently returned from Chile, says. “In the Northwest there are no laws in place, and so it’s easier just to call in Wildlife Services.”

Wuerthner cites the statistics that say in 2007 Wildlife Services spent upwards of a $100 million in order to control predatory attacks. By the time the year was over, Wildlife Services had become responsible for more than 100,000 animal deaths — coyotes, cougars, cats and dogs among them.

Statistically, predator attacks play a far smaller part in the death of livestock than disease, poisonous plants and injury, but predators are treated differently because, he says, you can’t shoot a disease. — Andy Valentine

[EW 8/5]
Also Scope: Ben Fogelson's Cover Story, HERE

The Parson Red Heads Catch The Worm

Since the release of their debut LP King Giraffe, the Parson Red Heads have found themselves streaking faster and faster toward widespread recognition and success. Being natives of Eugene, they have no qualms with tickling our Oregonian fancies, but their 2010 tour finds them kicking up beautiful, Croce-esque dirt from Chicago to Santa Cruz. Along the way, the group will offer a tour-only, four track EP, Early Birds, which contains three re-recorded versions of old Red Heads songs (including “Choose”), as well as the new “Never Ending Road,” which allows the group’s consistent songwriting talent to shine through.



Early Birds essentially contains more of the beloved, upbeat folk-pop that has served as a staple of the Red Heads sound over the years — and all ye who enter here in search of a folkier Neil Young, Fairport Convention or Byrds influence, do not be disheartened; there is great beauty and poise to be found in the noodles and harmonies of the EP as well as a finely tuned sense of lyricism.

Live Red Heads performances have been known to turn the original three-person group into a gigantic, 14-musician collective that still keeps a tight-knit performance going. Most shows exhibit a mellow, smile heavy atmosphere, interrupted only by the occasional psychedelic pedal fuck-around. In short: the perfect music for a chilled out night in the band’s hometown. The Parson Red Heads and Cotton Jones play at 9 pm Thursday, Aug. 12, at Sam Bond’s Garage. 21+. $5. — Andy Valentine

[From the 8/5 Issue of the Eugene Weekly]
Also Scope: Rick Levin's T-Model Ford Write Up, 3rd down, http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2010/08/05/music2.html

Wildlife Services: A Vicious Cycle

In 2007, Wildlife Services spent upwards of a $100 million in order to control predatory attacks. By the time the year was over, Wildlife Services had become responsible for over 100,000 animal deaths—coyotes, cougars, cats and dogs among them.

Every year livestock and cattle owners across the Northwest still call in the government’s Wildlife Services program in order to deal with predators that threaten their animals. For some, Wildlife Services seems like an excellent source to turn to when no other means of protection is available. Many others, however, see Wildlife Services as a nuisance. The general consensus among those who disagree with the policies of Wildlife Services is that the information readily available and advertised to the public is quite different to the reality found beneath the surface. For example, the extermination of rabid raccoons is advertised as a solution that Wildlife Services provides, and the public rarely disapproves of this activity due to the dangerous nature of rabies. However, by advertising such services, other happenings such as the indiscriminate killing of wolves, cougars, bears and coyote are swiftly thrown out of the limelight.


Photo: Cougar heads killed by Wildlife Services - predatordefense.org

Despite their attempts to protect the livestock industry, Wildlife Services has seemingly worsened the problem: Long time researcher of Wildlife Services, George Wuerthner, says: “Indiscriminately killing predators skews the age of a population over time…leaving a higher percentage of young, inexperienced predators that are far more likely to target livestock.” In this, Wuerthner explains the beginnings of a vicious cycle created by Wildlife Services: A livestock owner calls in a troublesome predator, several animals are killed (among them a large population of older, more experienced hunters) and inexperienced hunters are left to once again target livestock. After this, the cycle repeats.

Part of the reason that this cycle exists is due to the fact that there are no hunting laws in Oregon and so farmers and livestock owners often have no incentive to properly protect their animals. “In Chile, the farmers take protective measures like cattle sheds and corral fences to protect their livestock because there are laws against killing predators,” says Wuerthner, who recently returned from Chile. “In the Northwest there are no laws in place and so it’s easier just to call in Wildlife Services.”

Statistically, predator attacks play a far smaller part in the death of livestock than disease, poisonous plants and injury, but predators are treated differently because, well, you can’t shoot a disease. Death happens, but hunting and killing predators indiscriminately solves nothing—it just worsens the problem.

For more Information: http://www.predatordefense.org/USDA.htm

Take ‘em or Leave ‘em

It’s summer again, and everybody is ready to throw their mundane lives aside for some time out. For many, this break takes the form of a weekend camping trip to an overly commercialized — but nevertheless pretty — hosted campground; for others, ridiculous tourist traps like California and Cancun seem to be the only options. But if everybody and their dog decide to go on vacation, what actually happens to the dogs? What about the cats, birds, iguanas and all the other weird creatures that people like to detain and keep as friends? When we humans decide to spend a few days throwing all sorts of money into relaxation, what exactly are we to do with our pets?
Many Eugene pet owners seem to choose the outdoorsy options (camping, backpacking, etc.) because these are pet friendly ways to take time and relax. You can bring your pooch camping most places in Oregon, but national parks such as Crater Lake have restrictions on pets and do not allow them on trails.

For those who are not the outdoor type (but for some reason feel that bringing their pet along on vacation is an absolute must), there are an abundance of Oregon establishments that cater to the canine and other furry clientele. This ranges from inns and hotels to vacation rentals and resorts. If these places don’t cater to pets, one response that has worked for some is stuffing your little friends into a backpack and sneaking ’em in Trojan-horse style. Disclaimer one: This may not work with small yappy dogs. Disclaimer two: We’re not suggesting you do this, just that it happens sometimes.


(Photo: Mandie Stuhan, Lucky Dog)

Now, for those who want to venture far from home, attachment to these cute little life forms tends to pose a larger problem. Paying extra to have your dog locked in a cage for four hours while you fly across the country sounds awful, not to mention the fact that you’re locking up your precious poodly-kins. But here’s the good part: Pets, as much as we sometimes want them to be, are not children. Eugene is littered (pun intended) with cat and dog daycares and boarding kennels, so don’t rule them out as a possibility. This is not to say we should ditch our pets, but rather to weigh the pros and cons of bringing them long distances to crowded vacation spots.

One of the coolest options open to Lane County dog lovers who want to leave town but don’t want their beasties to languish without the benefits of the great outdoors is the Canine Campout provided by the highly certified Mandie Stuhan, owner of Lucky Dog. The campout basically involves your dog living a fun and healthy outdoor lifestyle at the coast or out hiking for a few days. They can “run on the beach, have fun and basically just chill,” says Stuhan.

So take ’em or leave ’em, the choice is yours.

Talk to Lucky Dog about their Canine Campout at
744-BARK


(In the 7/29 issue of EW)

Young Homeless In Eugene: Cover Story

Tim, age 20, Radcliffe, Ky.

“My entire family has been made up of criminals, addicts, alcoholics and car mechanics,” Tim says. He’s been homeless for about two months, he says, and lives on the doorstep outside of John Henry’s. He earned his GED from an adult education center and recently got a job at the Wendy’s on Franklin Boulevard.
He left the South because, “Kentucky seemed bland, you know? I just wanted to see the world for what it was.”
“I want to be a carnie; it’s my life dream to own a traveling circus.”


(Eugene Weekly 7/1 issue)

Jesus, age 16, Eugene
He calls himself Jesus because, “I was on mushrooms and decided that, not unlike Jesus, I see everything for what it is.”
Jesus says he was raised by a normal family in the Whiteaker area and was homeschooled til about halfway through high school. He’s been homeless since he was 13. Jesus used to live in a traditional homeless shelter, now lives on the doorsteps of businesses in downtown Eugene.
He says that nobody ever gives homeless people — much less homeless kids — the time of day to hear their stories. “Living outside of society, trying to keep equilibrium with everything around.”
He manages to make an average of $10 in an hour (on a good day) by asking for change.

(From the Cover Story: Eugene Weekly 7/1)
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2010/07/01/index.html

Voodoun Moi: My First Writing In Print

Picture this: A bar in the early years of jazz, notes floating softly from the stage and smoke lingering in a thick haze. Okay, now throw that bar into a time machine, sex it all up a bit, and set the date for 2010 — you’ve just discovered Voodoun Moi, a new outfit that includes Eric Valentine and Genevieve Bellemare, former members of “Next Best Thing, Eugene”-winning band John Giovanni.

With a delicious concoction of nu-jazz, funk and folk, this groovy quartet combines smoky, better-than-burlesque vocals with sly grooves, bass lines and rhythms right out of jazz music’s sassiest eras. Damn hard to capture their sound in words, so best to see them live and let the music speak for itself. Voodoun Moi plays with Phoebe Blume at 8pm Friday, June 25, at WOW Hall; $10 adv., $12 door.

(From the 6/24 Issue of Eugene Weekly)

Sleigh Bells First LP Blows my Face off Twice

(This is a good Thing)

Last year the first traces of the face melting, bone shaking noise-pop project that is Sleigh Bells found their way onto the Internet and immediately gained a following. With the digital release of their first full-length: “Treats”, the music world just got a notch louder. After listening to the album, I am fairly certain that the band stole their amps from Spinal Tap; near every song has at least a minute of flinch-inspiring volume that forces the listener to wonder how in God’s name they finished recording without destroying their equipment.


The truly unique aspect of Sleigh Bells’ music however is not their extreme threshold testing, but rather the perfect contrast that is created between Alexis Krauss’ sugary (and for the most part calm) voice and Derek Miller’s violent distortion. The sound certainly bares comparison to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with the female lead vocal reigning supreme as pandemonium ensues
around them.

With opening positions for Yeasayer and Major Lazer helping put their name on the radar of thousands, this band should become one of the more renowned bands for 2010. Though I have yet to experience the duo live, I have read that the floor shakes from start to finish. This, I can only assume, is an accurate depiction. After all, it’s not hard to imagine the opposite-of-tender sounds that make up “Crown on the Ground,” “Straight A’s” and “Kids” scoring points on the Richter scale.

For me, “Treats” leaves every other 2010 album thus far dead in the water. This is a true example of auditory perfection: Chaos and harmony both play their respective parts in making Sleigh Bells’ “Treats” one of the most unique and enjoyable albums I have ever heard.

Upcoming Events: Wolf Parade

The five—and more recently four—man Montreal group Wolf Parade will release their third LP entitled “Expo 86” on June 29th and thus far the tracks that have been pre-released are sounding impressive. After mild disappointment with their second album, it is comforting to hear some remnants of “Apologies to the Queen Mary” shining through. Though the loss of Hadji Bakara will leave a hole in the band’s sound manipulation department, this is not by any means a death sentence for Wolf Parade’s sound. In particular the layering of high, melodic lines on the new “What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way)” is quite evocative of the classic Wolf Parade style that so many listeners crave.


(Wolf Parade - "Expo 86" Album Cover)

It has been almost two years since the band’s “At Mount Zoomer” tour carried them here to unleash blissful chaos on the McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom. Upon entering the show I was not anticipating a particularly lively show—after all Wolf Parade’s studio sound had always seemed oddly tame to me in conjunction with their upbeat style—and so I (foolishly) decided to wear open toe footwear. In hindsight I can safely say that the 2008 show was the most definitive sweat-shower of my life: Over the course of their set I received several bruises, caught countless foreign sweat drops in my eyes and mouth, watched from across the pit as my friend battled with a violent asthma attack, and lost both of my sandals. I am expecting nothing less from this summer’s concert. Wolf Parade will hit the Ballroom on July 27th; get tickets, get sweaty, get out satisfied.

Upcoming Events: Apple Jam 2010

Memorial day weekend this year will be home to yet another Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge in Washington. This year’s lineup has been a source of great skepticism to many of the festival’s regular patrons, putting questions of value at their hands. Many say that the cost of Sasquatch, which is close to three hundred dollars before factoring in other expenses, may be a bad investment this year with a much smaller ratio of well-known bands to unknown. This claim appears particularly pertinent this year, especially with the severe fiscal issues that have drowned the U.S, and many have begun searching for other options that will not leave their wallets so empty.

Among the more affordable solutions for this dilemma is Apple Jam, to be held in Provolt, Oregon. The festival’s second year is approaching and the experience seems to be a good trade for those that seek a festival experience without the added financial burden. Though the artists that will be attending are largely unknown, the experience promises to showcase local talent, while providing a high-spirited atmosphere for music and art lovers to assemble. The festival will open its gates on Friday, May 21st and will proceed throughout the weekend. With a weekend pass costing $25, and an in-site camping pass costing only $5, it would appear that this festival could certainly be a viable option for those looking to save some money.



“The best festivals feature talent you've never heard before, and a good environment for it all to happen in,” says festival organizer Zack Karr, who will also be playing the venue with Ashland’s Karrgo Bossajova. Beyond all the music and arts though, the festival will offer more than expected in terms of activities. Among the more unique characteristics of Apple Jam is an “open jam” on Sunday, an event in which anybody that wishes may sign up and jam on stage to their heart’s content.

Fun festivals for music and art enthusiasts are constantly being held across the nation, many of them are large, crowded, and expensive. Many, however, take a different approach and decide to support local music. So if you are questioning any of the more expensive festivals this year, be it as a result of the financial trouble this nation has fallen into, or if you are simply looking for something new, Apple Jam may be the experience you are searching for.

The Secret Society of Giraffes

With a growing fan base here in Eugene, the electronic psychedelia that is “The Secret Society of Giraffes” discards convention to create a style all of its own. With solid beats, strange time signatures and lyrics that tend to evoke personal apocalypse, the project is a unique powerhouse that challenges human perception. With smooth progressions throughout songs, often leading to explosions of sound, it becomes increasingly more difficult to fight the urge to dance.

“I try to write songs about living in the world, and a lot of them are about mistakes I’ve made.” Says nineteen-year-old Ali Muhareb, the sole mastermind behind S.S.G, whose solo work is undoubtedly the crown jewel of his music career thus far. Though he has years to go before reaching a zenith, this young artist still has the power to amaze. At such a young age, it becomes startlingly clear that Muhareb has a lot of time left to build upon his already abundant talent.

With mostly processed vocals, fans of clean, vocoder-free music may find difficulty in “The Secret Society of Giraffes” at first, but before long the way in which the singing is crafted grows into an entirely novel experience. With heavy vocalization, the words are extracted from their usual context, thus allowing the lyrics to reach an almost instrumental state. This, along with many similar characteristics, makes up the essence of originality that lies within Muhareb’s tracks.


(Photo: SSG: it's what's for dinner)

From the calming progressions of “God’s Of Sound” through to the utter freak-out that is “Powerful Beat”, the LP “We’re all Doomed/It’s Alright” contains many of Muhareb’s signature sounds. Most of the tracks found on this album are also seen at S.S.G shows, where the young artist is sometimes joined by guitarist Denis Rickard who adds a fuller, more psychedelic feel to the project’s futuristic sound. Beyond this, Muhareb designs his own lightshows that only serve to heighten the senses further.

The project has already been the subject of abundant votes for this year’s “PDX Pop Now” festival that will take place in Portland over the summer, and with the imminent release of a new EP entitled “The Earth is a Snow Globe” it will be hard to miss Muhareb and his “Secret Society of Giraffes” in the not so distant future.

Erythronium Oregonum: A Beacon of Spring

It was not until my most recent hike here in Eugene that I truly knew spring had arrived. My hiking partners and I found ourselves on an isolated trail far off to the north side of Mount Pisgah, which had led us through a clearing of utter green. The color green is a wonderful thing in late winter here, as its true vibrancy finally comes out after the preceding months of gray. A proper sense of outdoor color deserts us Oregonians abruptly after fall, and the only frame of reference we are left with for beauty is a mélange of gray and green as the winter sky contrasts the evergreens.

The result, however, when spring finally arrives is a glorious assault on our pupils as we see new colors for the first time. This is the essence of rebirth. I personally had allowed the sight of flowers, the smell of pollen and the sound of insects to evanesce from my memory during this winter, and I was jarred back to total recall by our first sighting of the beautiful native Erythronium Oregonum.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtdeath/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

(Photo: Curt Deatherage)

Known more commonly as the Oregon Fawn Lily, the pure-white of this trilliumesque wildflower is a call to arms for the residents of Eugene to prepare for spring. From two spotted green leaves grows the beautiful lily, its petals furled upward in a gravity-defying display of the plant’s insides. And while most can appreciate true beauty, rarely does the opportunity arise for us to witness such a perfect example at such a perfect time. As winter draws to a close, we need a reminder of the vivacious nature our state holds, and Erythronium Oregonum is that reminder. So next time you are out and about, study the ground closely for signs of this diamond in the rough.

Water Tower Bucket Boys

With soaring popularity in the last year, independent electronica and freak-folk artists have found themselves dragged to the forefront of local music scenes across the nation. Many listeners have whole-heartedly embraced the indie scene, allowing the trend to continue. While I personally have never had anything against even the most obscure of these artists, I found myself craving refreshment in late 2009. After several forays into more traditional genres, I discovered that my craving stemmed from a simple lack of conventional discipline. My thirst was finally quenched with the discovery of The Water Tower Bucket Boys.

Operating like a well-oiled machine, the four young virtuosos that make up the Bucket Boys take the bluegrass genre to a whole new level. With a unique (and at times eccentric) blend of punk, gospel and old time bluegrass, the originality of this band is undeniable. Whether they are playing on stage, or busking on the streets of Portland and Eugene, dynamic originals and unexpected covers always fill their set lists

(Photo: Jackson Voelkel)

“Playing together is like a group therapy session;” says guitarist Kenny Feinstein, “it brings good energy to us as well as our listeners.” The group formed when Feinstein joined forces with his neighbor Josh Rabie and together they “became addicted to playing.” The Bucket Boys have since added Banjo player Cory Goldman to the lineup as well as Leo Lober-Tracy, whose magnificent bass licks add further perfection to the group’s balanced sound.

Together, these four have played shows throughout the U.S and parts of Europe, and the group will soon celebrate the release of their fourth album entitled “Sole Kitchen.” Their three previous albums “The Squid and the Fiddle,” “Catfish on a Line” and “Eel-P” have earned the Bucket Boys a group of loyal fans that continues to grow larger with each new release. Each album contains devoted songs that deal with an array of topics ranging from love and loss to fun and games. When questioned about the group’s inspirations, Feinstein simply replied: “Relationships, trees, and things we do for fun.”

Beyond writing songs about trees, however, the boys all work tirelessly at advancing their musical proficiency to new levels. With an already freakish grasp of theoretical discipline, it may appear that they have no direction to go but down. Sure enough though, the next time you hear them they will have proved this theory wrong.

So if, like me, you fancy a break from the norms of local music in the Pacific Northwest, or if you are simply fed up with the rain, The Water Tower Bucket Boys may be a welcome change. With New York based label Hip-Folk honing in on their talents, it won’t be long until we see these guys cropping up all over the place.

Finely tuned harmony, magnificent solos, and an incredibly good time are the three things that are always guaranteed at a Bucket Boys show.